Elevator chain and bucket



Dec. 28, 1926. v 1311.880

I (D.|1. EHQCDVYPI ELEVATOR CHAIN AND BUCKET Filed Feb. 19, 1923 Patented Dec. 28, l926.

ORLANDO HOMER BROWN, OF VICTORIA, BRITISZ-E COLUMBIA, CANADA.

ELEVATOR CHAIN AND BUCKET.

Application filed February 19, 1923, Serial No. 620,104, and in Canada February 5, 1923.

This invention relates to elevator chains and buckets of the class having the ordinary detachable links in which the male end of one link slides laterally into the female end 8 of a correspondinglink when the grooves adjacent to the male end thereof are in line with the sides of the female end of the cor-- responding link, and for which no claim of invention is herein made.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a chain that will admit of relat-ively large single unit buckets being each attached to two links, either adjacent or more remote in that chain and pass freely around the sprocket wheels over which the chain is trailed; to so construct it that all its parts shall be detachable the one from the other for the sake of convenience and cost of production; to provide an elevator of extra large carrying capacity for large grain elevators etc., or for developing water power, by applying the same principle where two similar chains as referred to above are trailed over two sets of sprocket wheels attached to the same shafts and where the buckets are correspondingly wider and each is similarly connected to two links in each of said chains.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of the elevator chain with a connecting member, 9 and a carrier bracket, 3 thereon. Figure 2 gives a view of the detachable plates, 14, in elevation. at 5 are seen the 40 holes into which the pliers are inserted in drawing them together, while at 12 are seen the slotted holes that receive the carrier bracket pins. In this particular case there are two in each plate though the number may vary. Figure 3 is a fragm ental elevation of buckets and chain showing its movement in passing around the sprocket wheel, 23. As will be seen the more links that inr tervene between the ones carrying the brackets the lower will the bucket hang over the sprocket wheel. Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section of a bucket midway between the carrier brackets. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. The bucket which extends between 3 and 14 (when the parts are assembled) has been omitted from the figure.

Whenever a single unit bucket has been employed heretofore in elevator conveyances, each bucket has invariably been attached to a single link in a chain, or in each chain where two chains are used, but never to two links in the same chain. The result has been the great limitation as to the size of the bucket used and also as to the security with which it is held in place. The jointed bucket attached to two links in the same chain. though it may have the capacity, is not serviceable as the single unit bucket as it is more delicate and costly in construction and less durable and very liable to get out of order.

The present invention is therefore a solution to these problems as it permits of single unit buckets of relatively large carrying capacity being each attached to two adjoining or more remote members in the same chain (or in each of two chains if desired) and provides the freedom of motion re quired in passing around the sprocket wheels by means of the hinged movement of the connecting links with the bearing links and also with the carrier brackets. Without this double hinged motion it is impossible to have a single unit bucket attached to two separate links in the same chain and pass freely around the sprocket wheels, though it may be done with a jointed bucket.

This movement is further facilitated by the concave bottom portion of the bucket between the carrier brackets over the chain, which allows the bucket to hang over the sprocket wheel in passing around it as illustrated in Figure 3.

The chain is composed of two designs of links asshown at 1 and 2 in Figure 1. The former is an ordinary detachable link, as previously described, and the latter is exactly the same except that the male end thereof extends beyond the sides thereof as shown at 7 Figure 1 to form the bearing pins that carry the connecting members, and is attached or detached from the ordinary link or the connecting member in exactly the same manner as are the ordinary links 1 5 to each other. But whenthese two are both to be united to said link the connecting member must be placed astride the other link and the edges of these female ends must both be in line with the grooves adjacent 1 to the male end of said link before it is slid into them or removed therefrom. These two cannot both be put on or taken off independently of each other. This is therefore a double protection against their coming apart.

The connecting member 9 has the female end thereof divided as shown at 9, Figure 1, so that it may be attached, as previously described, to the bearing pins of the bearing link; and the male end thereof extends be yond the sides thereof similar to the bearing links to form bearing pins thereon to carry the carrier brackets and is attached to the latter or detached in the same manner as the other parts already described.

The carrier bracket, 3, Figure 1, has attachments, 4 on its under side for receiving the male end of the connecting member in the same manner as the female end of the connecting member receives the male end of the bearing link of the chain except that there is nothing intervening between these two attachments when the male end of the connecting member is slid therein or the male and female parts may be interchanged between these members; and it has a plurality of spaced headed pins, 8, in this particular case four are shown though the number may vary on its upper surface which protrude through similar spaced holes in the bottom of the conveyor bucket when it is placed thereon.

The buckets shown at 18, Figure 3, and l, are each attached to two carrier brackets and have a plurality of spaced holes near the front and rear of said buckets to receive the spaced headed pins of the carrier brackets on. which it sits these protrude through the bottom of the bucket as shown at 8, Figue 3. The detachable plates are then placed down over these headed pins with the beveled ends thereof turned in, one up and the other down as previously described and drawn together until they lock to hold the bucket securely in place. The bucket also has a concave bottom portion between these carrier brackets over the chain to allow it to hang down over the sprocket wheel. This allows the connecting members to be shorter thus making it more compact and stronger and requires less space in which to work.

A glance at Figure 3 will showhow securely all the parts are put together. lVhen the chain and buckets are assembled the only place the chain can be taken apart is between the buckets. In order to get the other links apart one haste take off the detachable plates first and liberate at least one end of the bucket.

There are a number of modi cations that may be used in this invention. 1 have already stated that the buckets may be at tached to adjacent links or to more remote ones; also that the number of holes in the. bottom of the buckets may vary and consequently the number of pins on the carrier brackets and also the number of slotted holes in the detachable plates, to accommodate the various sizes of buckets used etc. I wish also to point out that different styles of pins may be user in both the chain links and connecting members. They may be in the form of an ellipse or semicircle or otherwise, and instead of being slid latera ly into the adjoining part may be shoved forward thereinto when the latter has been placed in an unusual position so that when it is in its normal position it will not detach therefrom. In this case the pins may be placed anywhere along the chain link. Again the connecting parts between the connecting members and the carrier brackets may be interchanged. I would therefore have it understood that. I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make any such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I

Having thus described the different parts and their mode of attachment to adjacent parts. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a bucket conveyor the combination of a link chain provided with integrally formed bearing pins on the bearing links at spaced intervals thereon, detachable connectinc; members connected to said bearing link pins, and having carrier brackets on said connecting members, conveying buckets detachably connected to said brackets.

2. In a bucket conveyor, the combination of a link chain, provided with integrally formed bearing link pins, extending laterally from the male end of the bearing links, spaced at intervals thereon; detachable connecting members connected to said hearing link pins, and having carrier bracket-s on said connecting members, and conveying buckets connected to said brackets, all substantially as set forth.

3. In a bucket conveyor, the combination of a link chain, provided with bearing links, having integral pins extending laterally from the male ends thereof, at spaced intervals thereon, detachable connecting members, having integral pins, similar to the bearing link pins, extending laterally from the male end thereof, attached to said bearing link pins, carrier brackets attached to said connecting member pins, and conveying buckets, detachably connected to said brackets, all substantially as set forth.

4. In a bucket conveyor the combination of a link chain provided with bearing links, having integral pins extending laterally from the male end thereof at spaced intervals thereon, detachable connecting members, having similar bearing pins attached to said bearing link pins, detachable carrier brackets with attachments on their under surface for receiving the male end of the connecting member and a plurality of spaced headed pins on their upper surface for receiving the buckets attached to said connecting member pins, and conveying buckets detachably connected to said brackets, all substantially as set forth.

5. In a bucket conveyor the combination of a link chain provided with bearing links, having integral pins extending laterally from the male end thereof at spaced intervals thereon, detachable connecting members on said bearing link pins, detachable carrier brackets with receiving attachments on their under side and a plurality of spaced headed pins on their upper surface on said. connecting member pins, single unit conveying buckets with a plurality of spaced holes in front and rear of said buckets, each detachably connected to two carrier brackets by means of detachable plates, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a bucket conveyor the combination of a link chain provided with bearing links, having integral pins extending laterally from the male end thereof at spaced intervals thereon, detachable connecting members on said bearing link pins, detachable carrier brackets with receiving attachments and a plurality of spaced headed pins on said connecting member pins, single unit conveying buckets with a concave bottom portion and a plurality of spaced holes in front and rear of said concave bottom portion each detachably connected to two carrier brackets by means of detachable plates, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a bucket conveyor the combination with two link chains each provided with bearing links having integral pins extending laterally from the male end thereof at spaced intervals thereon, detachable connecting members on said bearing link pins, detachable carrier brackets with receiving attachments and a plurality of spaced headed pins, on said connecting? member pins, single unit conveying buckets with concave bottom portions and a plurality of spaced holes in front and rear of said concave bot-tom portions each detachably connected to two carrier brackets in each of said chains by means of detachable plates, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. A detachable plate with a beveled end and catch at one end thereof and a hole for adjustment and one or more circular single slotted holes therein, said plates constituting a holding means for holding elevator buckets or other objects to brackets or other supporting means having spaced headed pins thereon for engaging the slotted holes of the plates in holding said objects to said supporting means, and said detachable plates being adapted for use in pairs, as illustrated, or singly, either crosswise or lengthwise of the bucket or object to be held by providing a complementary catch on the object held.

Signed at the city of Victoria, British Columbia, this 31st day of January, 1928.

ORLANDO HOMER BROWN. 

